Local Retailers: Shop Small Business Saturday Today

It’s not easy being a small business these days—even in a town like Weston.

With a number of small establishments closing their doors in Weston in recent years, including Dragon Books in August and longtime gift store The Chestnut Shop in late 2009, it’s all some small businesses can do to keep going—which makes Small Business Saturday a timely reminder that sometimes it’s best to stay, and shop, close.

Launched last year to support small business growth and encourage shoppers to patronize local establishments, Small Business Saturday is backed by American Express, Facebook and other big businesses that see the value in staying small.

As further motivation, American Express is offering cardholders who register for Small Business Saturday and spend at least $25 in single transactions at local merchants a $25 credit on their next billing statement.

The day “is a great thing for local retailers trying to compete for businesses with the malls,” said Jill Alpert, sales associate at Wendy Wheeler on Boston Post Road.

Alpert said the clothing store enjoyed a “fantastic” turnout on Black Friday and hoped for more of the same today, when it will extend its storewide Friday discount of 30 percent throughout the store.

Also extending yesterday’s discount is The Candy Bar, whose owner, Candace Evans-Lucas, said Black Friday’s sales went “very well.”

“It’s a great time to buy,” said Evans-Lucas, adding that the store’s discount of 20 percent off all merchandise is “almost unheard of” in the beauty business—the store sells high-end cosmetics, bath and body products and gift sets—and that the discount is definitely a tipping factor in terms of consumers’ shopping decisions.

“I think people are happy with the percentage off. That’s what motivates them,” she said.

Not that she minds. “We’re grateful to have the chance to thank local customers for their business for an extra day,” she said.